We are a non-profit ambulatory vision care centre,
providing surgical procedures, clinical vision care,
education and research. We are affiliated
with University of Toronto’s Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences.

We are a non-profit community care program,
providing on-sight and in-home services
for older adults and adults living with disabilities.
Our goal is to enhance social, intellectual and physical well-being.

A holistic approach to health: art at Kensington

October 20, 2016

Kensington Health strives to offer our residents the best quality of life - which extends far beyond simply health care. That’s one of the reasons why we embrace the arts, through music therapy and fine art.

“Residents who move into long-term care may sometimes feel isolated, and art can be another way of making them feel at home, by bringing the community in,” says Mélaine Wistuba, the Quality Coordinator at Kensington Health Centre.

Music therapy

Our music therapist at Kensington Hospice, SarahRose Black, also works with the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and lectures through the University Health Network and the University of Toronto. Black is well aware of the proven health benefits of music therapy, including reducing pain and anxiety and helping promote relaxation and connection.

At Kensington Hospice, we’ve seen these effects first-hand. Some residents have composed songs for their families. Others, like Lisa, have a musical background. The singer was inspired to join Black as she sang one of her favourite songs. After slowly joining in, she said, “That’s the first time I’ve sung in years. It sounded terrible. But that ... that felt amazing.”

Visual art and photography

Residents at our long-term care home, Kensington Gardens are surrounded by art. There are 80 pieces of art that line the walls of Kensington, including paintings, mosaics, photographs and stained glass. More than 100 of those pieces are documentary photographs of Toronto taken by the award-winning photographer Vincenzo Pietropaolo. With themes of community, multiculturalism and family at the heart of his work, his pieces perfectly suit the atmosphere and culture of Kensington. Many residents are artists themselves - so much so that we showcase their talents in an annual art show of their work.

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We are a group of non-profit charitable corporations
making a significant contribution to health care
in Ontario. We’ve served the Toronto
community since 1953 and continue to place
quality of life, family wellness, community
involvement and living with dignity at the
forefront of our vision.